This Char Broil Performance 475 4 Burner review will help you decide whether or not you should get this grill. (hint: this grill is great for large cookouts and at a reasonable price)
We’ll “unbox” the grill first, then go through all the features one by one. In each feature, we’ll go into detail its pros and cons. In the end, we’ll show you some great alternatives to this grill.
If you need to skip to any part of the article, there is a navigation box right below this. And with that, let’s get started.
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Unboxing
Char-broil is one of the biggest grill manufacturers in the world. The company first made and sold their BBQs in America in 1948. They’re known for brilliant designs and low to mid-range prices, backed by outstanding customer service.
Many consider Char-broil as an affordable alternative to Weber. However, they do surpass other low-cost grill manufacturers with their innovation and focused marketing. Their Performance product line is no exception.
The Char-broil Performance 475 is a mid-size model that is made from lightweight stainless steel. It has 4 main burners and 1 side burner, with a total BTU of 46000. Combined with its ample cooking space, this grill is capable of handling any large social gatherings. It also features a removable grease pan for easy cleanup.
If you’re looking for a 4-burner gas grill on a budget, look no further. The Char-broil 475 might just be the one. It may not last as long as a Weber, but it’s sturdy enough and can deliver the heat that you need.
Specs
- Dimensions – 50.4” W x 24.5” D x 45” H
- Weight – 90.3 lbs
- Fuel – liquid propane
- Main Cooking Area – 475 sq in
- Warming Rack – 175 sq in
- Total Cooking Area – 650 sq in
- # of Burners – 5 (4 main & 1 side)
- BTU of Main Burners – 36000
- BTU of Side Burner – 10000 (lidded)
- Total BTU – 46000
- Ignition System – battery-operated continuous spark (battery included)
- Side Shelves – yes
- Built-in Thermometer – yes
- Material – stainless steel
- Removable Grease Pan – yes
- Wheels – 2 large plastic wheels
Pros
- Sturdy and easy to clean porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grate
- Ample cooking space
- Nice stainless steel finish
- Get up to temperature fast
- Convenient side burner for cooking smaller dishes
- Extra accessories available
- Battery included for the ignition system
- Large wheels for portability
Cons
- Side shelves aren’t foldable
- Short warranty period
- No storage space
- Access to gas tank can be limited from the front
- Cannot be converted to natural gas
- Warming rack isn’t removable
Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner Grill Review
Design & Build Quality
Although some parts feel cheap and some parts feel high-quality, this grill feels solid all-around when you put everything together. The stainless steel is a bit thin, but it sports a nice finish to it. We really like the contrasting silver and black on this grill. The color combo indeed gives it the look of a more expensive unit than it is.
We also dig the lid. It has a nice heft to it. The lid handle is robust and stays cool during cooking. It also has a built-in thermometer so you can monitor the temperature of the cook. In addition to that, the distance from the cooking grate to the top of the lid is around 9”, which is tall enough to fit a small beer can chicken.
Speaking of the cooking grate, it’s made from porcelain-coated cast iron. If you spend enough time on this website, you know that we highly recommend this type of cooking grate. The porcelain coating prevents food from sticking. It also makes it easy to clean up after and protects the cast iron inside.
The cast iron conducts heat extremely well so getting a good sear is no problem here. You just have to be mindful of not letting the porcelain crack. Otherwise, it’ll expose the cast iron to rusting.
Let’s talk about the size of this grill. It might be too big for a couple, but it wouldn’t hurt to have it if you throw lots of parties on the weekend. You always want to go one size up when choosing the grill size. But the ideal buyer for this grill is a family of four.
Weighing around 90lbs, this grill is fairly large. One minor complaint is that the side shelves aren’t foldable. That means you might have a hard time storing it if you have a limited space. So please keep that in mind.
Another small complaint is that the grill doesn’t have any storage space underneath the cookbox. There is also a front panel to protect the gas tank. However, it makes it inconvenient to get to the tank on the side sometimes, especially when the cookbox is screaming hot.
Other than that, the Char Broil 4 burner gas grill is decently well-made overall. There are some flaws here and there, but that is expected for a unit at this price range.
Performance
One thing we want to tell you right away is that this grill cannot be converted to natural gas. It can only be used with the standard 20-lb liquid propane tank. Now, this might not be ideal if you want to save on fuel. But when it comes to performance in terms of heat output, liquid propane always trumps natural gas in this regard.
If you turn on all 4 burners at the same time (46000 BTU in total), the grill can reach 550F in about 10 minutes. This is actually not bad at all. With this temperature, it’s more than enough to sear a perfectly nice steak.
Furthermore, the beauty of having 4 burners is that you can set up zonal cooking. You do so by turning on only 2 burners. And even with 2 burners, the grill still gets up to temperature quite fast. It also holds heat very well thanks to the quality lid.
Now, the four burners have a nice distance between one another, not too far yet not too close. That means you will have an even heat distribution across the cooking grate, from side to side. However, the front of the grill tends to get hotter than the back of it. It’s due to a carryover tube that transfers the heat from burner to burner located in the front. Not a big deal since this is a problem that most gas grills have.
On top of the burners, there are also V-shaped heat tents. They’re there to protect the burners and prevent any potential flare-up. They’re also a great add-on because they can vaporize dripping from the food above, adding that flavor right back to the food.
Oh, one thing we forget to mention that this Char-broil Performance 475 also has a side burner. It has a BTU of 10000, which is hot enough to steam corn or cook rice while you’re waiting for the main course. The side burner is really convenient so that you don’t have to go back and forth inside the kitchen. Everything you need is right here in one solid grill.
Another cool thing about the side burner is that it has a folding lid. So if you want some extra prepping space, just close the lid and voila. Remember to turn off the burner first, will ya?
Ease of Cleaning
Besides the porcelain coating that makes it easy to clean the cooking grates, this propane BBQ also features a slide-out bottom tray. That means all the grease will be collected in one spot. Then you just have to remove and clean it.
The tray easily fits in most kitchen sinks. And all you need is a good grilling brush. A quick tip in case you don’t want to do a whole lot of cleaning. Simply cover the grease tray with aluminium foil. Only discard the foil after cooking.
User Experience
Cooking Space
This Char-broil 475 4-burner gas grill features two cooking racks. The main one has about 475 square inches of cooking area. As we mentioned earlier, this is large enough for a family of four. To put things into perspective, the rack can fit around 20 burger patties.
The secondary or warming rack has about 175 square inches of space. This is ideal for keeping cooked food warm or grilling something simple such as veggies. Now, this rack cannot be removed and it might get in the way if you want to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. A small chicken in an upright position might work, but a bigger turkey might not do it at all.
Extra Working/Storage Space
The side shelves really come in handy when you need them. They can hold a large dinner plate or pan plus other cooking utensils.
As stated above, there is no extra storage space for this unit. However, there is another model of this same unit that features a cabinet underneath the cookbox. We’ll touch on this version later.
Ignition System
The Char-broil 475 uses a continuous spark ignition system. This is actually better than the traditional piezo single spark one. It lights the burners quicker but requires AAA batteries. The cool thing is that the manufacturer already includes it with the whole package.
The turning knobs are robust, well-marked, and easy to use.
Wheels/Portability
This grill also has two large plastic wheels when you need to move it. Although they do their job, one small complaint is that the axle between the wheels is quite thin (about ¼” in thickness). Many previous customers have said that it can’t handle the weight of the gas tank during moving. They’ve further stated that it feels like it’s about to break.
Our best advice is to replace the axle with something thicker if you plan on moving the grill often. Or remove the tank first before moving the grill.
Ease Of Assembly
Assembly directions are mostly graphic with minimal text instructions. The layout of the directions is fairly intuitive however. But for some, it might be a challenge given the lack of text. That said, it doesn’t require you a lot of tools fortunately. All you need is a basic ratchet set and a few different sized Phillips screwdrivers.
We’ve included another video that shows you how to put this grill together. So please bookmark this page for any future help.
Available Accessories & Replacement Parts
One great thing when you buy from an established brand like Char-broil is that they offer replacement parts for all their grills. They also sell extra accessories if you want them.
The Performance 475 has a rotisseries slot inside the lid. There are also holes on the side shelves so you can attach hooks, a condiment basket, and even a cup holder with a bottle opener. Char-broil do have them available on their website.
Warranty & Support
For warranty, you have 5 years on the burners, 2 years on the firebox, and 1 year for the rest of the grill. It’s relatively short compared to other grills on the market. But hey, remember that Char-broil is an economical grill manufacturer. Besides, with a little regular upkeep, we do believe this grill will last you for quite a while.
In terms of support, they’re awesome. If you need any replacement parts, contact Char-broil and they will send them out shortly, sometimes within the same day. There is no charge and no hassle, just some good ol’ customer service.
You can reach them via phone, live chat, and email.
Conclusion
What We Like
We really like the porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates. This is where you spend most of your time cooking so it should be durable and well-made. Pure stainless steel grates might be too expensive to be included. And pure cast iron grates might rust too quickly. Porcelain-coated cast iron hits the sweet spot between the two.
We also dig the ample cooking space that this grill has to offer. Not to mention the ease of cleaning with the removable grease tray bottom. And how hot the burners can get. Well-done, Char-broil!
What Could Be Improved
Nothing major, really. Within its price range, this is probably the best that you can get. Well, maybe a better axle for the wheels, a removable warming rack, and folding side shelves.
The Alternatives
Char-broil Performance Series 4-Burner With Cabinet 475 Grill
This version is essentially the one we’ve been talking about this whole article. However, there are a few features that distinguish the two.
First, this 475 version has a cabinet below the cookbox. You can store extra things in there. The gas tank also goes here. This not only provides additional storage space, but also allows you to get access to the tank from the front.
Second, this version doesn’t have two big wheels. Instead, it has four casters with two being lockable. Four casters can bear the weight better than just two wheels.
And that’s it. If you need to learn more about this grill version, simply follow this link.
Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill
The Weber Spirit II E-310 is definitely a big step up from the Char-broil 475. The Weber is a bit smaller and has fewer burners, but the BTU is about the same. It doesn’t have a side burner, but features a storage space underneath the cookbox.
All in all, the Weber grill is generally made from better materials with longer warranty. For more information about it, please click here.
Should You Buy The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner?
The answer is yes. If you’re in the market for a solid 4-burner gas grill but don’t want to break the bank, we’d highly recommend this one.
Although it does have some shortcomings, it’s worth every penny given its large cooking space and other essential features. We expect it to last about 5 years in a wet and humid climate. But it will do better than that in drier weather for sure.
If you find this Char Broil Performance 4 Burner review helpful, please don’t forget to share it on your favorite social media. We’d really appreciate that.
Happy grilling.
